National Nursing Week, is scheduled for May 7 to 13 this year. The theme, “The Health of Our Nation”, reflects the ongoing commitment by nurses to ensure that patients, residents and families receive the highest quality of care. (supplied)

National Nursing Week, is scheduled for May 7 to 13 this year. The theme, “The Health of Our Nation”, reflects the ongoing commitment by nurses to ensure that patients, residents and families receive the highest quality of care.(supplied)

National Nursing Week, the annual event that recognizes the contributions and achievements of the nursing profession, is scheduled for May 7 to 13 this year. The theme, “The Health of Our Nation”, reflects the ongoing commitment by nurses to ensure that patients, residents and families receive the highest quality of care.

At Sunnybrook, nurses partner with their interprofessional colleagues to develop and implement new knowledge through research and innovation. Examples of this include implementing an early mobility program to avoid loss of physical function during hospitalization, optimizing risk assessment and intervention to prevent pressure ulcers, and improvement of pain management.

In addition to these organization-wide activities, Sunnybrook staff nurses led over 50 Quality Improvement projects this year in their individual departments, addressing important care priorities such as supporting patients and families and improving end-of-life care.

Sunnybrook has partnered with several academic institutions, including Ryerson, George Brown and Humber, to offer nursing education at the Bayview campus. Additionally, thirty of our nurses have clinical appointments to the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto, where they are involved in classroom and clinical teaching, as well as supervision of undergraduate and graduate nursing students.

To demonstrate an ongoing commitment to best practice and evidence based interprofessional care, Sunnybrook has just embarked on a three-year collaboration with the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) candidate. Through this initiative, Sunnybrook will join an international network of over 70 health care organizations recognized for excellence and innovation in evidence-based nursing practice.

Nurses dedicate themselves to delivering the best patient care possible, and to constantly upgrading their skills. To our nurses: thank you for the compassionate and innovative care you continue to bring to your work, and to the lives of the many people you touch.